Certainly, one of the most practical devices created by humans is a compass. Yes, this comes in handy for everybody out there who may be up for hiking, trekking, adventuring different terrains, and the army men too.
You just need this simple and cozy apparatus to track your path or know your current location whenever you are out on an adventure, whether you are new to the route or just want to explore the city in a new way!
Just so you know, these come in 2 types, digital compass, and analog compass. For those of us who are not sure about what actually these are, here’s a quick definition:
Digital compass
Have you ever noticed a crucial part of a vessel or a ship heading to sail in the sea? Well, that is surely the digital compass, which depends on the earth’s magnetic field and comprises a magnetometer. Thus, it helps indicate absolute directions.
So, now that you have scratched the surface of what actually a digital compass is, let’s proceed towards the analog compass.
Analog compass
Just for your reference, an analog compass demands a D.C input of 5.0 Volts so that it can produce a DC ratiometric signal as an output.
To start with
- While holding the compass, make sure you hold it the right way and steady.
- To know that you are holding the compass in the right way, you need to make sure that the red needle is aligned with the letter “N,” which indicates the “North” direction.
- So, now that can help you spot other cardinal directions letting you locate your current place or decide where to go by choosing which direction.
Pro tip
- As homework, you can track the location of some of the landmarks by identifying which way to go for.
Now that you have a rough sketch of how to operate a compass, you might be thinking that it’s a piece of cake you can choose to accompany you!
So, let’s shift the spotlight on how the digital compass and analog compass debate. Here it is:
What’s with the analog compass?
As you know, both compasses use and rely on the Earth’s magnetic field to track and indicate the north direction.
What happens in the analog compass is, it might seem inaccurate at times as it may fail to indicate the right direction as it may start to wobble. The wobbling occurs due to the strong force of magnetic sources or some mere deposits of magnets nearby.
The compass considers those deposits as the north direction and just begins to wobble aimlessly!
Thus, even though it helps in tracking your location and knowing your way, it is not the one you can completely rely on if you are heading to a place that is totally new to you.
How about a digital compass?
Well, as you already know how to align the red needle with the letter “N,” it becomes easier to handle the rest of the cardinal directions.
The digital compass helps you choose the right direction by accurately pointing the north direction. Thus, you can move further by figuring out the rest of the cardinal directions on your own.
As it is not distracted by any of the magnetic deposits or any such mere hindrance, you can totally trust this little guardian to choose to accompany your journey.
Also, to top that, the digital compass comprises a digital screen in which it indicates 4 cardinal directions. Thus, to ease your journey, you can make use of some of the extra features present in the digital compass, say thermometer.
This little device can totally track your location via foot, air, and water too!
So, have you decided on your adventure spot this season? Let us know how well the compass helped you in making your adventurous journey smooth and comfy!
Read more: How to Use a Compass